AN MSP trying to establish whether SNP ministers held talks with Donald Trump over plans to build a offshore windfarm near his luxury golf resort in Aberdeenshire has hit a brick wall.
Lewis Macdonald tabled questions at Holyrood after the US billionaire claimed he was told by the Scottish Government that the planned offshore windfarm off Aberdeen would not go ahead and ruin the view from his golf development at the Menie Estate.
The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre wants to spend £150million for 11 turbines, would measure up to 640ft high – twice the height of Big Ben – off Aberdeen Bay.
The Scottish Government said if any assurances were given it was prior to the SNP taking power in 2007.
Mr Macdonald lodged four parliamentary questions to see what guarantees were given by the current administration. In reply, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said there was “no record or knowledge” of ministers or civil servants communicating with the businessman or the Trump Organisation about the application between May 2007 and August 2011.
The windfarm application has been submitted to Marine Scotland for consideration.
Mr Trump has claimed that his golf resort – which includes a luxury £250million hotel, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses – would be “at risk” if the government backs the scheme.
He has raised his concerns about the application with First Minister Alex Salmond, whose Aberdeenshire East constituency takes in the Menie Estate resort near Balmedie.
In one letter the businessman described the turbines – to be located just over a mile from his golf course – as “big and ugly”.
Mr Trump said they were “disastrous and environmentally irresponsible”, and left an “ugly cloud hanging over the future of the great Scottish coastline”.
He has warned the first minister that the turbines would have a negative impact on Scottish tourism.
Mr Salmond is a strong supporter of the golf resort but also of relying on offshore windfarms to help meet ambitious renewable energy targets.
SNP ministers have set new targets for the country to meet 30% of its energy demand from renewables by 2020.
The government hopes that 100% of Scotland’s electricity demand will be met by energy generated by wind, wave and tidal power by the same year.
Mr Macdonald said it was now up to Mr Trump to reveal who gave him assurances about the windfarm.
“He needs to tell us, otherwise his protests will amount to meaningless hot air,” added the MSP.